Cozy Apple Cider Pork Roast

This pork roast cooks low and slow in a rich cider sauce. The meat gets so tender it falls apart with a fork. Sweet apples and red onions make every bite warm and comforting.

Prep 20 minutes Cook 3 hours 45 minutes Total 4 hours 5 minutes Serves 6

Ingredients

• 4 to 5 pounds boneless pork shoulder or Boston Butt
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 medium red onion, cut into thick wedges
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 2 cups apple cider
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
• 1/4 teaspoon dried sage
• 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
• 2 large apples, cored and cut into thick wedges
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons water

How to make it

1. Preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit with the rack in the lower third position.
2. Season the pork generously on all sides with the salt and pepper.
3. Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium high heat and sear the pork until golden brown on all sides, then remove the meat to a plate.
4. Lower the heat to medium, add the red onion to the pot, and cook for 2 minutes before adding the garlic for another minute.
5. Pour in the apple cider, chicken broth, mustard, thyme, rosemary, sage, and allspice, scraping the bottom of the pot to release any flavorful browned bits.
6. Return the pork to the pot, cover with the lid, and roast in the oven for 2 and a half to 3 hours until the meat is very tender.
7. Mix the cornstarch and water in a small bowl to create a slurry, then stir it into the liquid in the pot.
8. Nestle the apple wedges into the sauce around the pork, cover, and roast for an additional 30 minutes until the apples are soft and the sauce has thickened.

Tips

Serve sliced pork with spoonfuls of the warm cider sauce and soft apple wedges over mashed potatoes.